Thinking of buying or adopting
a Sloughi?

Sloughi Overview

The Sloughi is a large sighthound which are somewhat closely related to the Azawakh rather than the Saluki. The distinctive feature of the Sloughi is its long legs which provides for a slightly taller appearance than long. The topline is nearly horizontal with moderate angulations and tucked up underline. It has a long, wedge-shaped head with slight stop and black nose, and obliquely set eyes which are large, dark and oval that gives a sad expression. It also has drooping ears that are triangular in shape and carried close to the head. Its upper teeth closely overlap the lower teeth and are set square to the jaws. A moderately long neck carries the head proudly. The front legs are long; flat boned and well muscled while the hind legs are strongly muscled, also long and well-boned. The lean feet are elongated and hare-like which, when in full speed acts as superb shock absorbers that cushions the body. The tail of the Sloughi has a strong curve at the end without fringes or long hair and is usually carried low when the dog is at rest but never carried higher than the level of the back. The coat of the Sloughi is fine and short with an undercoat that grows during winter to help protect the breed from extreme cold. Coat colour ranges from light sand to red sand (fawn), with or without black mask, black mantle, black brindling or black overlay.

Sloughi Characteristics

Intelligence

Intelligence

All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.

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Exercise Needs

Exercise Needs

All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.

Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.

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Dogs Health

Dogs Health

There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.

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Child Friendly

Child Friendly

There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.

Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.

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Apartment

Apartment

There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.

Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.

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Shedding

Shedding

All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.

If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.

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Grooming Needs

Grooming Needs

All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.

Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.

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Barking

Barking

Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.

Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.

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Alone

Alone

Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.

Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.

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Trainability

Trainability

There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.

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Energy Levels

Energy Levels

All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.

High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.

Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.

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Dog friendly

Dog friendly

Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.

There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.

Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.

Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.

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History & Origin

The origin of the Sloughi is rather obscure, although it is known to be an ancient breed as recent DNA analysis has shown. Nevertheless, its exact origin dates too far back to be accurately described. However, ancient writings and representations of African sighthound-type dogs go as far back as the 8th to 7th millennium B.C. These straight-eared and lop-eared hounds were an important part of the everyday lives of ancient Egyptians as archaeological evidences have shown. The lop-eared sighthound probably has an Asiatic origin and was also part of tributes to the Egyptian Pharaohs from the ancient Kingdom of Nubia (located along the border of present-day Sudan and southern Egypt.) This ancient sighthound is very similar to the modern Sloughi, Azawakh, smooth Saluki and smooth Afghan hound. However, the absence of concrete genetic proof makes it hard to claim if this breed is identical to any of the mentioned breeds or a distinct breed in its own right, or whether it is the ancestor of all lop-eared sighthound. In the 13th century, the Sloughi was also mentioned in a book written by a Moroccan writer named Al Mansur. Although the breed is sometimes referred to as the Arabian Sighthound (which is historically incorrect), it was the nomadic Berber tribes called Amazigh (free people) who developed the Sloughi in the northern Saharan region of Maghreb, long before the Arabs invaded their land. Locally, the breed is known as Sloughi Moghrebi (sighthound of the Maghreb) and is the only dog treated as family and allowed into the tent. It holds an elevated position as a noble animal compared to the other impure local dogs which are called “kelb.” For the Arab people, the Sloughi is the only canine breed prized and given the same care as an Arabian horse, sometimes mourned like a family when lost and often adorned with jewelry and amulets. When the French occupied the Arab lands, they introduced new laws which prohibited hunting with sighthounds and those remaining were either killed because of epidemic rabies or brought to other regions which greatly affected the population of the Sloughi. Today, in spite of dedicated breeding efforts, the Sloughi remains to be an uncommon breed.

Sloughi Temperament

The Sloughi is an alert and intelligent breed of sighthound, although it has a sensitive nature. This is an intelligent breed which responds well to fair and gentle training although sometimes, it lacks enthusiasm towards obedience training. It is quiet for a hound breed but has the same endurance and stamina as any other hounds.

Training

Training should be consistent, fair and gentle as this breed is very intelligent but sensitive.

Grooming

Grooming the double coat is quite easy; use a rubber brush or a soft bristle brush to remove loose or dead hairs. An average shedder, the Sloughi has no “doggy” odour except when wet, and will clean itself like a cat.

Health

Being a rare and a pure breed dog has made the Sloughi perfectly healthy with no known hereditary problems. This dog can live between the age of 11 to 13 years.

Exercise

It is a very active breed that needs a lot of exercise. Running alongside a bicycle or jogging will provide the right amount of exercise for the Sloughi, although it would be very happy if it gets its daily dose of exercise off leash, particularly in a well-secured open space, such as a highly fenced yard. Never leave the Sloughi off leash in a public place as it will chase other animals. Protection against cold and wet weather must be provided since it is a breed that is used to arid and hot climates.

Children and other pets

Early socialization is of utmost importance, especially with other animals around the house. Generally, if the Sloughi is raised together with other pets it will generally get along with them very well. A strong prey drive dominates this hunting sighthound and may chase other pets, particularly small animals. In contrast, the Sloughi is very affectionate and gentle to its family and gets along well with children. It is generally reserved towards strangers but will typically welcome familiar faces.